Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville

(1711 - 1772)

French violinist and composer. Published
his first opus, a volume of instrumental music, in Paris (Sonates, 1733). In 1734 he appeared as a violinist at the Concerts Spirituel, then took a post with the Concert de Lille. He returned to Paris in 1739, became a violinist of the royal chapel and chamber and performed in
approximately 100 concerts; some of his grands motets were also performed that year to considerable acclaim. He was appointed sous-maître (1740) and then intendant (1744) of the royal chapel, produced operas and grands motets for
the Opéra and Concerts Spirituel, respectively, and was associated with the Théatre des Petits-Cabinets; he maintained his career as a violinist throughout the 1740s. Mondonville is best known today for his Pièces de clavecin en sonates (op. 3, 1734) and Pièces de clavecin avec voix ou violon (op. 5, 1748). His operas were quite successful in their time; they include Le carnaval du Parnasse (Paris, 1749), Titon et I'Aurore (Paris, 1753), and Thésée (1765). The introduction to his sonatas Les sons harmoniques op. 4 (Paris and Lille, 1738) includes the first manual on playing violin harmonics.